International piano festival kicks off in Antalya

The 15th International Antalya Piano Festival will be held from Nov. 7 and 29, featuring 20 concerts by 26 virtuosos from nine countries, eight master classes, 20 workshops and six talks in the Mediterranean Turkish province.

For the first time this year, the festival will host promising young pianists selected from all conservatories in Turkey, according to a written statement issued by the Antalya Metropolitan Municipality.

The young pianists will meet with the festival’s famous guests during master classes. Along with free public concerts, workshops and talks will be organized in cultural centers, schools and shopping malls for the people of Antalya.

Renowned Turkish pianist and composer Fazıl Say, who was the festival’s art director in previous years, was replaced this year by conductor Gürer Aykal. The general coordinator of the festival is Seren Akyoldaş.

The 15th Antalya Piano Festival will open with a concert by the Antalya State Symphonic Orchestra tonight, featuring pianist Gökhan Aybulus as the soloist. Works by Turkish composers including Ulvi Cemal Erkin and Ferit Tüzün will be performed in the concert.

The festival will continue with Evren Kutlay’s “Piano in the Ottoman Palace” in the first week, with classical music star Christian Zacharias taking the stage to perform the piece. The Tord Gustavsen Quartet will also be among the guests of the first week.

The second week of the event will present French singer Indila on Nov. 18, while Nov. 21 will see Emir Gamsızoğlu and one of the best living Beethoven performers, Paul Lewis, who will perform Beethoven’s final three piano sonatas.

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